Monday, October 12, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal together with the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov held a conference call with the heads of the regions on the situation with the spread of COVID-19 in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister announced the current statistics on the incidence of coronavirus infection and noted that the critical situation remained in Kharkiv region.

"Over the past 24 hours in Kharkiv region, 741 people fell ill - an absolute record. 418 people fell ill in Sumy region. More than 200 - in each Kyiv, Poltava, Rivne, Khmelnytsky regions. There are clear trends in the growing number of patients," said Denys Shmyhal.

The Prime Minister heard the reports by heads of the Kharkiv Regional and Kyiv City State Administrations on measures taken to counter the spread of COVID-19. Kharkiv region and Kyiv remain the leaders in the total number of detected cases. Denys Shmyhal instructed them to submit proposals to the Ministry of Health to increase the hospital bed availability.

The Kyiv City State Administration representatives noted that they are ready to work out the deployment of mobile hospitals and expand the number of beds at the expense of the National Academy of Sciences and specialized departmental hospitals.

Moreover, the Prime Minister gave a commission to the Kyiv City State Administration, together with the State Service for Food Service and Consumer Protection, to check local markets for compliance with anti-epidemic rules and to strengthen control over public transport.

In addition, Denys Shmyhal called on the leaders of all regions to refrain from holding mass events in the near future, including congresses and conferences.

"On the Day of the Defender of Ukraine, solemn events are planned in various cities. We ask you to maintain a dialogue and work actively with the organizers so that the events take place in a safe environment and in compliance with all anti-epidemic rules," said the Prime Minister.